At least five people are dead and another is missing after two floatplanes carrying cruise passengers on an excursion collided in Alaska on Monday.
According to KTOO.org, the two aircraft were flying 14 Royal Princess passengers around Ketchikan, Alaska when they struck each other in midair at 1 p.m. around eight nautical miles from the destination.
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Princess Cruises confirmed that four cruise passengers and one pilot were killed in the accident, which involved an Otter floatplane with 11 people onboard and a Beaver floatplane carrying five people.
“We are incredibly distressed by this situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with those onboard the planes and their families,” a Princess spokesperson said in a statement. “Princess Cruises is extending its full support to traveling companions of the guests involved.”
A passing ship called the Saint Innocent rescued 10 people involved in the crash and transported them to a local hospital, with some in serious condition and one in critical condition. The remaining travelers were listed in fair condition.
The Royal Princess was on a seven-day roundtrip cruise from Vancouver when the incident occurred in the vicinity of George Inlet near Ketchikan. The company that operated the Otter plane has suspended all flights as it is “in the midst of an active crisis response.”
The United States Coast Guard, Forest Service and Alaska State Troopers are assisting in the search for the missing passenger.
In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the accident.
